Rappahannock Commission Asking for Ideas for 610!

When I attended the Stafford Town Hall meeting last month, only a handful of people came. When the BOS, unveiled their plan regarding Route 610 everyone agreed that it was not a good solution. They intend to put another traffic light on Route 610 and a traffic light off the exit ramp from I-95S traffic. This is only going to back up traffic to Route 1 and even further onto I-95. What are the vdot engineers smoking? To top it off, the BOS said that their "solution" is only good for 3-4 years. I'm sorry... whoever is in charge of the plans regarding the road system in Stafford County is not doing their job. When the shopping center right off the 610 exit is complete, traffic is going to be even worse.


First of all, there should not be two commuter lots off of 610. There should be only one and it should house at least 1500-2000 cars. Even better, have a ramp go directly into the lot. Unfortunately, our BOS don't plan for the future. I see the attempt to start the shuttle bus as a cover to make some people think "they care". If they care so much, why aren't they more widely publicizing their town hall meetings? What would it cost for them to put up a banner publicizing the town hall meetings? Last week I had to slug from 610, everyday I spoke to my fellow slugs and drivers about the town hall meetings - no one even knew they existed, many said they would have like to have gone, and many admitted that they are fed up with the congestion on 610 and poor planning for the commuter parking lots.

Did anyone see the article in yesterday's paper titled "Stafford shuttle scrapped?" In it Gary Pash, BOS, suggests that all slugs should move to the Mine Road lot. The fact of the matter is that while there some people willing to move to the Mine Road lot, many are not.

When exiting I-95S, gridlock already exists on Route 610. Can you imagine how worse it would be if the several hundred of cars, returning home in the evening, attempt to make that first or second left to the Mine Road lot? My time and my life are more valuable than that.

In regards to 610 versus 630, I use both. It just so happens that 630 is only 2 miles south of 610; they are not galaxies apart. I am a concerned Stafford County Resident and slug. Any suggestions concerning the 630 lot is intended to ease the congestion at 610.

If you are concerned about the future of the Mine Road, 610, or 630 lots I invite you to attend the next Stafford Board of Supervisors' meeting. In fact, maybe you would like to get the word out - that is what I have been doing the last month and a half.

Just wanted to let people know that there is some new discussion on splitting the lines at 610, under the "Proposed New Slug Line Locations" forum. Please take a look and give us your thoughts!